Ornamental package for a consumable product or the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved product holding package and an improved method for manufacturing, holding, storing and selling products, especially consumable products. In an embodiment, a package for a consumable product is provided. The packaging includes a housing which holds a plurality of products including bar codes such as Universal Product Code symbols. The package includes a housing for receiving the products where at least a portion of the housing enables the products to be visible and prevents the bar codes on the products to be read by a scanner. In an embodiment, at least one bar code is attached to the housing, which is readable by the scanner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to packaging. More particularly,the present invention relates to packaging for storing and dispensingconsumable products.

The packaging for consumable or confectionary products is very importantto the look, marketing and storage of the product. Very often, inaddition to text on the packaging, the packaging also attempts tovisually convey a message about the type of product, the taste of theproduct or the purpose of the product. For example, packages forcinnamon or cherry tasting products are often red, grape tasking productpackaging is often purple, etc. Once the consumer has identified adesired brand, the consumer can typically choose a product based solelyon the color of the packing.

In marketing the product, packaging can convey other information besidestaste. For example, certain recent gum products have been developed thathave had increased minty taste and that also whiten teeth and freshenbreath. The packaging for these products can be made to look like aknown toothpaste housing. The consumer can thereby associate the productwith its affect by simply viewing the packaging.

Additionally, packaging can convey a theme or themes. For example,confectionary products such as gum products have been placed in packagesin the shape of a candy cane to represent a theme such as Christmas. Thepackaging for these products can be made to look like a candy cane orother image associated with the Christmas theme.

There are also other marketable facets to packaging consumable products,namely, making the packaging see through or transparent so that aconsumer can view the products inside the packaging. See-through ortransparent packaging enables the consumer to know what product iscontained inside the packaging.

The consumable products may be packaged as independent pieces or as agroup of pieces such as a pack of gum. Typically, the groups or packagesof consumable products such as packs of gum each include a code such asa bar code or Universal Product Code (UPC) symbol. The UPC symbol on theindividual packages identifies the price or cost of the packages.Similarly, when the individual packages such as the gum packs areinserted into a larger package such as the candy cane shaped packagedescribed above, the product and thereby the UPC symbol on the productsare visible. The difficulty with this type of packaging arises when thelarger ornamental package such as the candy cane package is scannedduring check-out at a store because the individual UPC symbols on theindividual packages such as the individual gum packs are scanned insteadof the UPC symbol for the larger ornamental package. As a result, thecost or price of the complete package is erroneous because only theprice or cost of one of the individual packages is scanned and read bythe scanner. Therefore, consumable products may be scanned incorrectlyand/or sold for the wrong price or cost. This leads to significantprofit losses for the manufacturers of the consumable products.

It is therefore desirable to provide a package for consumable productsthat enables the correct bar code of a product package to be scanned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved product holding package andan improved method for manufacturing, holding, storing and sellingproducts, especially consumable products. In an embodiment, a packagefor a consumable product is provided. The package includes a housing isconstructed to enable at least portions of some of the products to bevisible and prevent the codes such as bar codes to be read by a scanner.As a result, the correct bar code associated with the package is scannedby scanner.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a package for holding aplurality of products including codes that are read by a scanner isprovided. The package includes a housing including an interior forreceiving the products. The housing is so constructed and arranged toenable at least portions of the products to be visible but prevent thecodes on the products to be read by the scanner. The housing includes atleast one code which is readable by the scanner.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the housing includes a covermaterial.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the housing is substantiallynon-transparent.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the housing is opaque.

In an embodiment, at least one lid is removably attached to the housingso the products in the housing cannot fall out of the housing.

In an embodiment, the housing includes two open ends for receiving theproducts.

In an embodiment, at least two lids are removably attached to thehousing so the products in the housing cannot fall out of the housing.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a package for holding aplurality of consumable products is provided. Each of the consumableproducts includes a bar code readable by a scanner. The package includesa housing. The housing includes a cover material. The cover material ispositioned to enable at least portions of the consumable products to bevisible and prevent the bar codes on the consumable products from beingread by the scanner.

In an embodiment, the bar codes are Universal Product Code symbols.

In an embodiment, a lid is attached to one end of the housing so thatthe products cannot fall out of the housing.

In an embodiment, the housing includes two open ends for receiving theproducts.

In an embodiment, at least two lids are attached to the housing to coverthe openings so the products in the housing cannot fall out of thehousing.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a package forconsumable products in the shape of a Christmas ornament is provided.The package includes at least one consumable product including a barcode inserted in a housing shaped like a Christmas ornament. The housingincludes at least one other bar code readable by the scanner. Inaddition, at least a portion of the housing includes a wrappingmaterial, where the wrapping material enables at least portions of theconsumable products to be visible and prevents the bar codes on theconsumable products from being read by the scanner.

In an embodiment, the bar codes are Universal Product Code symbols.

In an embodiment, the wrapping material is at least one ribbon attachedto the outside of the housing.

In an embodiment, the wrapping material is integrally formed with thehousing.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the housing is opaque.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of packagingconsumable products having at least one bar code readable by a scanneris provided. The method includes providing a housing for receiving atleast one consumable product. The method then includes the step ofconstructing at least a portion of the housing to enable at leastportions of the consumable products to be visible and prevent the barcodes on the consumable products from being read by a scanner. Next, themethod includes the step of constructing the housing to include at leastone bar code which is readable by the scanner. The next step is placingat least one consumable product in the housing.

In an embodiment, the method includes the step of constructing thehousing to include a cover material to enable at least portions of theconsumable products to be visible and prevent the bar codes on theconsumable products from being read by a scanner.

In an embodiment, the method includes the step of constructing thehousing to include a cover material includes integrally forming thecover material with the housing.

In an embodiment, the method includes the step of at least partiallyforming the housing with an opaque material.

In an embodiment, the method includes the step of placing the productsin the housing so the products cannot fall out of the housing.

In an embodiment, the method includes the step of placing at least onecover on the housing so the products in the housing cannot fall out ofthe housing.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a package forconsumable products that can be properly scanned by a scanner.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the following DetailedDescription of the Invention and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the ornamentalpackage of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of theornamental package of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of theornamental package of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, an embodimentof the package 10 of the present invention is illustrated. The package10 in the illustrated embodiment includes a housing 14 and a lid 16. Inone embodiment, the housing 14 is manufactured using a suitable materialsuch as plastic and is formed to define a receptacle or compartment forreceiving at least one consumable product. The lid 16 is manufacturedusing a suitable material such as plastic and is sized to fit or connectto one end of the housing 14. The cover is removably attached to thehousing so that products can be placed in or removed from the housing.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the housing 14 includes asubstantially transparent or see-through material which enables aconsumer to view the consumable product 12 stored inside the package 10.The transparent or see-through material may be any suitable transparentmaterial such as a transparent plastic or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 14 and each of the consumableproducts 12 include a bar code 18 and 20, respectively, such as aUniversal Product Code (“UPC”) symbol. The bar code is associated with aprice or cost for the products and the package 10 including one or moreof the consumable products. Although in the illustrated embodiment, thebar code 18 is attached to the housing, the bar code may be attached orotherwise affixed to the housing 14, the lid 16 or any suitable portionof the package 10.

In an embodiment, the bar codes 20 are positioned so that a portion ofthe bar codes on the products are not readable by a scanner. In FIG. 1,the consumable product packages 12 are inserted or placed in the housing14 and sealed in the housing using the lid 16. Because the individualconsumable product packages 12 are positioned so that a portion of thebar codes are not readable by the scanner, the package 10 andspecifically the code 18 associated with package 10, can be scanned by ascanner without mistakenly scanning one or more of the bar codes on theconsumable product packages 12. This enables the package 10 to beproperly scanned and enables the correct price to be identified orindicated to the consumer.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the package 10 isillustrated where the housing 14 is manufactured using a substantiallynon-transparent material or opaque material. The substantiallynon-transparent material or opaque material is selected and used to formthe housing 14 based on the material's effectiveness for obscuring,covering or blocking the codes 20 on each of the consumable packages 12inside the package 10. The non-transparent or opaque material preventsor at least partially covers or blocks the individual bar codes on eachof the consumable product packages 12. This prevents the scannerassociated with the register from mistakenly reading or scanning one ormore of the bar codes 20 on the consumable product packages 12 when aretailer is attempting to scan the bar code 18 for the entire package 10including all of the consumable product packages 12. It should beappreciated that non-transparent material or opaque material may be anysuitable non-transparent or opaque material. In an embodiment, thenon-transparent or opaque material may include one or more colors andare associated with a theme or themes such as Christmas or otherholidays.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the package 10 isillustrated where the housing 14 includes an obscuring or cover material22. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover material 22 is wrappedaround and attached to the outside surface of the housing 14 to at leastpartially cover or block the bar codes 20 on the individual consumableproduct packages 12. In an embodiment, the cover material 22 is acloth-like material which is wrapped around the outside of the housing14 and attached to the housing using a suitable adhesive, glue or thelike.

In another embodiment, the cover material 22 is integrally formed withthe housing 14. For example in FIG. 3, the cover material 22 isintegrally formed with the housing 14 and forms a plurality of generallydiagonally positioned stripes or lines on the housing 14. The covermaterial 22 may be any suitable material and may be positioned in anysuitable location or locations on the housing 14. As illustrated in FIG.3, the cover material at least partially blocks or covers the consumablepackages 12. Specifically, the cover material at least partially blocksor covers the bar codes 20 on each of the consumable product packages 12to prevent these bar codes 20 from being scanned or read by a scannerwhile enabling bar code 18 to be scanned by a scanner. The covermaterial 22 may be integrally formed with the housing, included on theoutside of the housing, included on the inside of the housing orotherwise connected or attached to any portion of the housing.

In one packaging method, a package including a housing having an openend for receiving products is provided, where at least a portion of thehousing enables the products to be visible and prevents the bar codes onthe products from being read by a scanner. Next, the products are placedin the housing. Then, at least one bar code is attached to the housing,where the bar code is readable by the scanner.

In an embodiment, a cover or sealing device 16 is secured to one end ofthe housing 14 of the package 10. At least a portion of the housing 14enables a consumer to be able to view the consumable products 12 insideof the package 10 and enables a scanner to read or scan the bar code 18for the package, while preventing the bar codes 20 on the products 12from being read by the scanner. In an embodiment, the cover material 22is configured in a pattern or design on the housing. For example asillustrated in FIG. 3, the cover material 22 is configured as generallydiagonal lines across the housing 14. The cover material may beconfigured as vertically lines, horizontal lines, diagonal lines or inany configuration or pattern on the housing 14.

In another embodiment, the housing is formed in the shape of a Christmasornament for promoting and selling consumable products such as chewinggum during the Christmas season. The housing is formed or molded intothe ornament shape. The housing may also be molded into a candy cane,wreath or other shape associated with Christmas. In this example, thecover material 22 includes at least one ribbon such as a red Christmasribbon that is wrapped around the housing 14 to enable portions of theconsumable products to be visible but prevent the bar codes on thoseproducts from being read by a scanner. It should be appreciated that thehousing 14 may be any suitable size or shape. It should also beappreciated that the cover material 22 may be a cloth-like material orany other suitable material.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

1. A package for holding a plurality of products including codes thatare read by a scanner comprising: a housing including an interior forreceiving the products, wherein the housing is so constructed andarranged to enable at least portions of some of the products to bevisible but prevents the codes on the products to be read by a scanner;and the housing includes at least one code which is readable by thescanner.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of thehousing includes a cover material.
 3. The package of claim 1, wherein atleast one portion of the housing is substantially non-transparent. 4.The package of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the housing isopaque.
 5. The package of claim 1, which includes at least one lidremovably attached to the housing so the products in the housing cannotfall out of the housing.
 6. The package of claim 1, wherein the housingincludes two open ends for receiving the products.
 7. The package ofclaim 6, which includes at least two lids removably attached to thehousing so the products in the housing cannot fall out of the housing.8. A package for holding a plurality of consumable products, each of theconsumable products including a bar code readable by a scanner, saidpackage comprising: a housing including a cover material, said covermaterial positioned on the housing to enable at least portions of theconsumable products to be visible and prevent the bar codes on theconsumable products from being read by the scanner.
 9. The package ofclaim 8, wherein the bar codes are Universal Product Code symbols. 10.The package of claim 8, which includes a lid attached to one end of thehousing so that the products cannot fall out of the housing.
 11. Thepackage of claim 8, wherein the housing includes two open ends forreceiving the products.
 12. The package of claim 11, which includes atleast two lids attached to the housing to cover the openings so theproducts in the housing cannot fall out of the housing.
 13. A packagefor consumable products in the shape of a Christmas ornament comprising:at least one consumable product including a bar code inserted in ahousing shaped like a Christmas ornament, said housing including atleast one other bar code readable by the scanner; and at least a portionof the housing including a wrapping material, said wrapping materialenabling at least portions of the consumable products to be visible andpreventing the bar codes on the consumable products from being read bythe scanner.
 14. The package of claim 13, wherein the bar codes areUniversal Product Code symbols.
 15. The package of claim 13, wherein thewrapping material is at least one ribbon attached to the outside of thehousing.
 16. The package of claim 13, wherein the wrapping material isintegrally formed with the housing.
 17. The package of claim 13, whereinthe portion of the housing is opaque.
 18. A method of packagingconsumable products having at least one bar code readable by a scanner,said method comprising: (a) providing a housing for receiving at leastone consumable product; (b) constructing at least a portion of saidhousing to enable at least portions of the consumable products to bevisible and prevent the bar codes on the consumable products from beingread by a scanner; (c) constructing the housing to include at least onebar code which is readable by the scanner; and (d) placing at least oneconsumable product in the housing.
 19. The method of claim 18, whichincludes the step of constructing the housing to include a covermaterial to enable at least portions of the consumable products to bevisible and prevent the bar codes on the consumable products from beingread by a scanner.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step ofconstructing the housing to include a cover material includes integrallyforming the cover material with the housing.
 21. The method of claim 18,which includes at least partially forming the housing with an opaquematerial.
 22. The method of claim 18, which includes placing theproducts in the housing so the products cannot fall out of the housing.23. The method of claim 18, which includes placing at least one cover onthe housing so the products in the housing cannot fall out of thehousing.